Archive: Phillies' 5-homer inning
“In one of the greatest displays of batting power ever shown in one inning, the Phillies socked three pitchers for five home runs, eight hits and 10 runs in the eighth inning at Shibe Park last night and defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 12-3, in the second game of the series before 13,777." -- Stan Baumgartner, Philadelphia Inquirer, June 3, 1949.
That June 2 power display remains unmatched in Phillies history.
Trailing, 3-2, going into the bottom of the eighth, catcher Andy Seminick hits two of his three home runs for the night, while left fielder Del Ennis, third baseman Willie (Puddin’ Head) Jones and pitcher Schoolboy Rowe hit one each.
The Big Inning:
* Ken Raffensberger is pitching. Ennis homers into the left-field upper deck.
* Seminick homers over the left-field roof. (Jess Dobernic relieves Raffensberger). “One of the longest drives ever seen in this city” Baumgartner wrote.
* After the first out, Jones homers into the left-field lower deck.
* After second out, Rowe also goes deep into the left-field upper deck (Kent Peterson relieves Dobernic).
* The inning continues as Richie Ashburn walks; Granny Hamner doubles off the left-field wall (missing a homer by a foot); Eddie Waitkus is safe at first because of Ted Kluszewski’s error (dropped throw) as Ashburn scores; and Ennis' RBI single to right scores Hamner.
* Seminick hits a three-run homer into the left-field stands.
* Stan Hollmig is hit by a pitch, then later scores on a triple by Jones that is two inches away from being a homer. Bob Miller strikes out to end the inning.
“It was one of the most dramatic displays of hitting ever seen at Shibe Park, surpassing in some respects the sensational feats of the old Yankees against the Athletics,” Baumgartner said.
The five homers tied a Major League record.
The closest the Phillies have come was four in the seventh inning at Wrigley Field on Aug. 17, 1985 (Juan Samuel, Glenn Wilson, Mike Schmidt and Darren Daulton).